Illegal Downloaders Can Expect A Letter From Their ISP Very Soon

WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES: Demonstrators parade with posters in front of the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC 29 March, 2005 as the nine justices heard oral arguments on the legality of file-sharing networks. The case seeks to determine whether companies that distribute peer-to-peer (P2P) software can be held liable for copyright infringement, if the networks are used for illegal copying of songs, movies, software and other content. Activists on both sides of the issue demonstrated outside the court. Supporters of the plaintiffs including Hollywood and music industries, argue that the companies being sued for the file-sharing systems essentially built their businesses on the theft of copyrighted material. AFP PHOTO NICHOLAS KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

Customers of major Internet providers like Time Warner, Comcast, and Verizon who pirate content online using BitTorrent and similar services may finally feel the effects of the long-rumored "Copyright Alert System" in the next several weeks.

Long championed by Hollywood studios and the music industry, the new system will collect IP addresses of people who illegally download content and then flag them to Internet providers. The providers will then issue a warning to users along with information on how to obtain content legally. Over time, punitive measures may be taken, such as slowing down an Internet connection. The first warning letters will go out within the next two months.

What if a customer feels he's been wrongly accused? A review process will be available, but it will cost a reported $35 for each challenge.